Toyama downs Kyoto, moves to 13-2

Quietly, without much fanfare or wide-spread exposure in the nation’s mainstream media, the Toyama Grouses have built a title-contending team.

Head coach Bob Nash, whose basketball roots stretch from his schoolboy standout days in Hartford, Connecticut, to his rise to stardom at the University of Hawaii — plus NBA- and ABA-playing experience — likes to humbly say, “We’re just a basketball team from the countryside.”

Right. But the Grouses have become a very good basketball team, as evidenced by their 13-2 record, including an 84-77 road triumph over the Kyoto Hannaryz on Saturday in the bj-league.

Toyama outworked Kyoto on the offensive glass with 17 rebounds to the hosts’ 10, and won the overall rebounding battle (44-35). Brown, a Gonzaga University product, had a game-high five offensive boards.

David Palmer paced Kyoto (9-6) with 20 points, canning 6 of 10 3s. Shun Watanuki scored 14 points and Yusuke Masuda had 10. Yu Okada finished with eight points. Former Washington Wizard Edwin Ubiles was held to a season-low six points on 3-for-11 shooting while playing 15 minutes, his lowest total of the season.

Toyama sealed the win by outscoring Kyoto 23-7 in the final quarter.

Evessa 98, Susanoo Magic 84

In Osaka, six Evessa players scored in double figures and coach Shunsuke Todo’s team snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating Shimane.